“Come Out to Vote” Launch of the 2024 EU Election Campaign
Rainbow Rose, the LGBTIQ+ organisation of the Party of European Socialists, launched their EU election campaign, under the banner “Come Out to Vote”, this weekend in Zagreb, Croatia.
With a direct plea to the LGBTIQ+ community in each EU country, Rainbow Rose is urging every queer person to come out to vote, and vote social democrat and labour. As threats to LGBTIQ+ rights come not only from far-right movements, but also far-right and populist governments, it is essential that every queer person who has the right to vote, uses that right to elect progressive MEPs to the European Parliament. Only this way can we have a European Commission that is on the side of our community.
Dajana Bakić, President of Rainbow Rose, said “This is a fork in the road for Europe. The last 5 years have been tough for our community. We have seen examples of how government can do harm to our community, we only need to look to Orban in Hungary or Meloni in Italy. Our rights can be easily taken away.”
“But we have seen the best of what governments can do, and it’s no coincidence it is in countries led by social democrat and labour parties. In Spain and Germany, our parties have modernised gender laws, despite fierce opposition from conservatives and the far-right.”
“We are campaigning for a Union of Equality, and for a Europe without discrimination and hate. This should apply in each country of the EU, not just those who have social democrat or labour governments. But to achieve that, we need the LGBTIQ+ community to use the power they have to vote for social democrat and labour MEPs in June. We can make that happen.”
Peđa Grbin, President of SDP Hrvatske, said “I am proud that Rainbow Rose launched their EU election campaign here in Zagreb, in the most recent country to join the European Union. Our party has a proven track record of being an ally and advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community in Croatia, and this campaign supports our efforts to elect as many SDP Hrvatske MEPs to the European Parliament, so that we can achieve the progressive Europe citizens in Croatia and beyond so desperately need.”
In addition to launching their EU election campaign, Rainbow Rose welcomed the application to join their organisation from the newly established LGBTIQ+ organisation of SDP Hrvatske. After almost two years of close co-operation, in December 2023, the main board of SDP Hrvatske agreed to the formation of an LGBTIQ+ section, and in February this year, the SDP Queer Forum held its inaugural meeting.
Karlo Vedak, President of the SDP Queer Forum, said of their application to join Rainbow Rose, “It is highly symbolic that in this year of the EU elections, following our recent national elections, that the Queer Forum has applied to join Rainbow Rose. We have worked in partnership to reach this point, and we can now organise and support progressive, S&D candidates of SDP Hrvatske in these elections - where every MEP matters - to get a progressive majority for LGBTIQ+ people, and every citizen of Europe. Exciting times lie ahead!”
